Memorial Day

Monday, May 25, 2009

Clam Beach on the far northern

California Coast

We decided to brave the two hour and forty-five minute drive on the steep, twisting, winding road through the mountains so we could spend a couple of hours at the awesome Pacific Ocean... before driving back home again! Clearly, Audrey had fun!

Waiting for the waves to come....

Deedee and Audrey enjoyed dancing in the water!












My two "look-alikes" were very much in tune with the music of the ocean...

Mom poses with her wonderful livewire Audrey...

...and then big sister Deedee holds Audrey up to smile for Mom.

Ben and Audrey had fun chasing the water and building sandcastles.

Audrey followed Ben around, doing whatever he did for a while.

Megan was carsick all the way to the ocean, but once she arrived, she loved it. The coldness of the water didn't seem to bother her at all. She just kept running in and out of the waves.

Here she is again laughing and enjoying her afternoon. ;-)

Jim was the first one to the water once we parked; he immediately ran all the way down to the beach and into the ocean up to his neck. Wasn't long before even his head was soaked!

Obviously, Ellie Rose was having a good time. She and Jim played for an hour and a half in the waves and finally came out drenched and COLD, but smiling!

All in all, the long drive through the switch-backs was worth it, and we had a blast! I'm sure we'll do it again soon -- well, maybe not that soon!

To tell you the truth...

... I considered going back and carefully editing that Oct. 22nd entry to read tomorrow's date: Dec. 22nd. I should know better than to publicly announce my firm intentions to start doing something -- like revamping and writing more regularly in my blog.

Anyway...

I really have been busy -- mostly with Drama. All of the performances came off well this month, and our production of Our Town was a big success. Shannon (as "Emily") looked beautiful in her wedding dress, but it was sad to watch her die.

Here are Jim (as Wally), Ben (as Professor Willard), Shannon (as Emily), Caleb C. (as George), and Deedee (as the Backstage Person Extraordinaire).


I must say, the youngest kids' play, Saving the Barefoot Kingdom, was the surprise hit though. Especially the cute little dragon-boy.

(Jim is the old man in the green cape below.)



And here is one of our middle groups -- they performed a medieval comedy called, Because of a Fishbone, written several years ago by Deedee's best friend Annie (pictured with her just below)


As usual, Deedee was a huge help to me. (This is her with Annie -- looking both crazy and exhausted at the end of a long night.) I could never do any of the drama programs without Deedee. Which is why next year is looming so dauntingly.... but I do love our drama kids, and I'll post more pictures of them later now that I actually understand how to get them to my blog here. (I never said I was technologically talented.)

This week has been full with finally getting the tree and a few decorations up so that it looks like Christmas around here, and sending out some cards with a family newsletter, and (mostly!) helping Deedee with her many college applications (all coming due very soon...).

Caiti and Paul are home visiting for a while, so the house is full to the ceilings (nearly literally) -- and I must admit that it's also quite loud. With laughter and jokes and more laughter and shared memories and lots and lots of food and intense political debates and more laughter and more food and ... yeah, like that.

Hey, we even had some snow this week -- for a whole hour or so on three different days before it melted! Ellie Rose made a wonderful (actually, pathetically small and smooshed together and half-dirt, but pretend I didn't say that...) snowman. I give her extra points for ingenuity and optimism.

One of my blog categories is A Simpler Life. That's because a "simpler" life is something I strive to live. Hence, my mode of homeschooling -- the relaxed style. I've read books upon books on the advantages of simplicity. I believe in it. I long for it. And sometimes I live it. Usually.

But sometimes the simple life has heaps of deadlines and detailed requirements thrust upon it, and we have no choice.

For there to be major drama productions, there must be costume fittings, technical adjustments, and dress rehearsals. For there to be college educations and scholarships (at least in this family), there must be a season of tests and essays, auditions and apps. For there to be happy kids in a crowded house, there must be plenty of food, and thus, mother must routinely visit the grocery store.

But there are other times we make a choice to stray from the simple path for various foolish reasons. I am just as guilty as anyone else despite my self-proclaimed love of the "simpler" life. Yet knowing our weakness is more than half the battle, for we can only fight against what we know. Sometimes I'm tempted to buy just one more gift, plan just one more activity, say "yes" to just one more request on my time and sanity, but then I remind myself to step back and evaluate.

Am I being who I am called to be? Am I doing what I am called to do? Am I following the path that has been laid before me?

Because really -- it's just that simple.


Have a blessed Christmas season, friends.

Kim

Tuesday, May 6th, 2008 -- Freedom Academy

I'll call yesterday Day #1 in my project of describing a "normal" week in our busy homeschooling family. Please remember that what I say here works for my family very well, but I can't promise you that it will be perfect for your family, too. Sort of like those medical or legal disclaimers that come at the end of all the ads, eh? ;-o No, it's not that bad... ! I do stand by our relaxed philosophy and methodology. I firmly believe that how we handle our daily living and learning can work for many other homeschool families as well, if they approach things with the right attitude.

Have you noticed that our lives -- not just the results, but also the experiences along the way -- are greatly affected by the way we think and behave? I have seen a direct link between my perspective and what happens each day... between my perspective and how others react to me... between my perspective and how my kids treat each other. Wow -- that realization throughout the years has caused me to guard against being too uptight or set in my ways. Maintaining the eternal and compassionate perspective I should have has also forced me to reevaluate my priorities regularly. So what we're doing this month might evolve into something quite different by next month in order to better emphasize whatever God wants us to learn at that time.

Ok, enough preface already. On with the show.

Mornings at our house:

Yesterday morning was much like any other weekday morning. The older three girls get up between 6:30 and 7 am to get ready for their days, and the three middle kids usually wake up about 7 am to get their own breakfast and do their chores. Sometimes an older girl will sleep in until the last minute (7:30 am), and I have to hustle her out of bed, but not normally... and not yesterday. Often one or both of the boys will get up early (even 5:00 am!) to play their educational "Civilization" computer game before breakfast and chore time. Yesterday, Ben did this and enjoyed the quiet time to himself.

Audrey's crib is in my room, so she wakes me up every morning around 6:30 am. (My husband is often gone before this time -- either running or to an early prayer meeting or to work.) After changing and dressing Audrey for the day, I start an educational DVD for her (an animal one from the San Diego Zoo or a Musical one w/ great classical music and counting and such). The TV is in my room, so Audrey remains in her crib during this time. My 4yo Megan usually joins Audrey within a few moments. They much on cheese sticks and bananas while I get ready for the day. I start coffee and read my Bible a little.

At 7:4o am, I leave to take Caiti to her job at a law office in town and drop Deedee and Shannon for their morning music, art, and Advanced Math classes at the community college that is just 1 mile from our home. While I'm gone, Ben, Ellie Rose, and Jim finish their chores. Megan and Audrey either come with me or finish their movie, as I am only gone about 20 minutes.

Since this is the way things go every weekday morning, I won't repeat the description every day. You can just assume all went as usual unless I mention something otherwise. ;-) I will say that until the last couple of years, I did **not** get up and moving this early. I mean, babies and toddlers always have you up early, but that doesn't mean you're necessarily functioning in any real way! ;-) But I do admit that the early start has been a positive change overall. I think I will continue with it even if the need to be out the door fades. I just seem to have a more energetic attitude towards the day when I start it this way -- which actually is a big surprise to me as I have never considered myself a "morning" person at all.

So after I returned home yesterday morning, I took my two little girls outside, and they ran around while I transplanted tomatoes and such. The middle kids (that's how I refer to Ben, Ellie Rose, and Jim-Bob in shorthand) were in the dining room and kitchen with the windows open, facing the front yard, so we could talk back and forth when necessary. They did some free reading, and thenJim worked on a story he's been writing, Ellie Rose copied some poetry and did some music theory on the computer, and Ben finished up some map work (he was actually studying the major roads in the U.S. at the time of the War of 1812). After a while, Jim came out to join me and helped me with the gardening, while Ellie Rose and Ben practiced their instruments (flute and clarinet).

At lunchtime, some friends delivered two cute Birman kitties to us, and the kids played with them while I threw together some sandwiches and fruit. My aunt arrived with her boys (13 and almost 15), and I ran over (well, drove) to the college to pick up the girls. Back home, I put Audrey down for her nap and settled Megan with some puzzles and art supplies and her little dollies and cars and such in the front room. Ellie Rose and Jim and their 13yo cousin went outside to play, while Ben and his older cousin and I sat down in the dining room to tackle algebra for an hour and a half. My two older girls would usually go off to their rooms at this point to work on their own academics and reading and art and such -- they are almost completely independent learners. However, Shannon was distracted by the kitties and took them to her room to cuddle, and Deedee went outside to help Jim paint his Awana Grand Prix car -- he wanted it to look just like a giraffe. ;-)

After Algebra, the boys played "Civilization" for 20 minutes or so (since Ben can't play outside at the moment due to the fact that he cut his hand with the saw a few days ago, and I don't want him getting it dirty....). After their break, the older boys called in the others, and we did our weekly unit study in American History. We are, as mentioned above, currently at the War of 1812 and finding it all very interesting. The kids shared their artwork and stories and maps and such, and then we discussed Tecumseh and W.H. Harrison and Napoleon and the British and Washington D.C. burning and generally had a great time. During this time, Shannon was playing outside with Audrey and Megan, and Deedee had been picked up by a friend to go back to the college for a choir practice.

4 pm! Plans for a Pampered Chef party for last night fell through when the hostess called to say the "party lady" had a family medical emergency, so the show was cancelled. My aunt arrived to pick up her boys, and I watered the liquid amber trees as the kids rode bikes and/or played with the kitties. At 4:30 pm, I went over to the college and grabbed Deedee and her best friend, dropped them at home so they could make some quick burritos, and then went to pick up Caiti from her job. I had Megan and Audrey, of course, and they enjoy running these late afternoon chauffeur trips with me. I bring them a snack, and we listen to K-Love (a Christian music radio station), and we usually stop and get a raspberry tea or an Italian soda somewhere along the route...

When I dropped Caiti at home, I asked her to put some water on to boil, and I took Shannon to her ballet class and Deedee and her friend to their Orchestra Dress Rehearsal for this weekend's performance.... Then I brought the little girls home and made some spaghetti. It was about 6:15 pm at that point...

Ok, I'll have to update the rest of this later when I have a little more time. ;-)


Blessings,

Kim

Where does the time go?

As the cliche says, "Time flies!"

Wow, it's hard to believe it's been more than two weeks since I last wrote here. I think the gap in writing on my blog (the same gap I see on other blogs) stems from two main issues.

First, I think we bloggers (writers though we are...) occasionally feel we have nothing important to say, nothing worthy of a reader's time and attention, nothing profound or life-changing to pass on to others.

I struggle with this "dilemma" at times, and I have to remind myself that people come to blogs like these for various reasons. To share in the joy or sorrow of the day-to-day happenings of others' lives, to glean experienced advice, to soak in a fresh perspective or approach to challenges, to make new friends -- these are all common reasons people frequent blogs.

However, I doubt many of us read people's personal thoughts and ramblings expecting to discover something deep and meaningful that will alter the course of our existence. Of course, it might happen, but I don't think anyone is planning on it. So why let ourselves feel pressure to "perform" in any certain way? Why worry that some anonymous reader out there is going to view our writing as trivial and pointless? Uuuuhhhh..... so what? ;-)

Secondly, I think we are all simply busy!

I know my own life is crammed full. I'm chasing my toddler, grocery shopping... again ("Mom, there's nothing to eat!"), reminding my teens of various important deadlines, working just a little in the garden, updating my Netflix queue with appropriate history DVDs, helping the kids with their math (carrying, borrowing, making change, deciphering Roman numerals, reducing fractions, and conquering algebra... by the way, I now know the answer to "Where am I ever going to use all this math?"), planning a craft-filled American Girl party for my 10yo dd (even though I am soooo not-crafty!), reading aloud the new Mysterious Benedict Society book, baking lots of cookies, matching lots of socks (and wondering how I always end up with 87 singles in search of mates), staying up late into the night with my older kids to discuss the genocide going on in Darfur and the upcoming U.S. elections, meeting at B&N with a mom who wants to talk about pulling her kids out of public school, looking at my "mending basket" momentarily before deciding it can wait (another few years...), starting to teach a Sunday School class, buying plane tickets to NYC (for my 17yo's national award ceremony), arranging for my son to come home from college for the summer, drawing hopscotch squares in the driveway and then demonstrating my expertise, finishing just a couple more pages in my scrapbook, cheering at the Awana Grand Prix (and taking pictures of all their amazingly designed cars), reading a whole book just for me, writing (articles, letters, plays, online groups), and -- of course -- the biggest thing of all, chauffeuring!!!

So, I'm busy. Which sometimes causes me to forget about this blog of mine that's just sitting here waiting for me to come write.

Don't misunderstand me though. I'm not complaining about being busy. I love my life. Truthfully, I consider it to be a simple one. I don't feel rushed (except very occasionally); I don't feel frantic; I don't feel exhausted. Instead, I usually feel satisfied, happy, even exhilarated. I used to wonder why my busy life makes me feel this way, despite the fact that I am actually a quiet type who prefers solitude much of the time. In contrast, many people I know seem overwhelmed with what they call the "craziness" of their lives. So I really thought and prayed about it.

What I finally realized is that my life energizes me and makes me feel content (though still challenged) because we are doing the things that we have decided are truly important to us. These are not the same things that would be important and fulfilling to every family, but they are what God has specifically laid on our hearts to make priorities in our lives at this time. Since I am sure that what we are doing is what is best for us right now, I have no need to worry or second-guess. I can **relax** and enjoy our time with each other as we move through our busy days.

Again, I have nothing profound to say here, and I know you are just as busy as I am. If you have actually read all the way through this long-winded writing, I thank you for your time.

I pray that you and your family are fully enjoying whatever it is that God has given you to do this day.

Rush on -- and relax! ;-)

Kim

Life without TV....

Someone on a homeschool moms' forum recently asked about living without a TV. I considered the question for maybe two seconds and then jumped right in with my usual long-winded response. ;-) Thought I should copy my little "essay" here to my blog as it actually pertains to something I think is a big part of why our kids have turned out to be the independent, self-motivated, great kids they are!

We have lived basically TV-free for our entire married lives -- that's 22 years. I say "basically" because it is not completely TV-free. We do have two TVs. One is in our bedroom, and one is in my husband's study/game room. In this way, the things are completely under our control. The TVs are only used for family videos once a week, occasional educational DVDs, a late-night video for my husband and me once in a while, and the odd game of football. (Btw, the TVs only "get" 2 channels -- ABC and PBS -- because we don't have them hooked up to cable.)

We do not feel our kids are oversheltered at all. They have seen many movies over the years, and we let the older kids watch movies that other parents might forbid. We talk with them about what we see and really make these things a learning experience. The teens keep up with national and international news through safe internet sites. However, I have always believed that the values and attitudes taught (overtly or subliminally) through modern TV shows are to be avoided at all costs. It is very evident to me (as I work with many homeschooled teens in drama) that there is a BIG difference between those who watch the TV and those who don't.

Not watching TV has always been easily accomplished around here. After all, the kids have never known any other way. It's not as if there was ever a question in their minds about the possibility of watching TV. It's just something we don't do. None of them can imagine having the time to watch the thing anyway because they are so busy living their lives. ;-) I can see that it would be much harder for a TV-watching family to transition away from it than it was for us just never to start the practice at all.

When my older kids were young, people said we'd never be able to keep them off of TV through their high school years. Then when they saw it actually happening, people said that the kids would turn out "weird" -- that they wouldn't be familiar with current cultural references and would look silly or stupid. Well, they were wrong on both counts. My oldest two went off to their respective secular colleges on full academic scholarships (because they'd had time to read and learn and follow their different passions....and play a lot, too!), without ever having watched a single sitcom.

Guess what? It didn't stop them from becoming leaders on their campuses and friends with people from all backgrounds. Their lack of TV has never hindered them for one moment. No, instead I see many ways it has helped them tremendously.

On the other hand, I do now give my teens a mini-"crash course" before they go off to college. My oldest was looked at just a little strangely when she had no idea who "Oprah" was. ;-)

The fact is that there are so many other valuable things that we and our kids can be doing with the time that is so easily wasted on TV. Yes, there is the "garbage in, garbage out" aspect of it all, too. I definitely agree that's important. However, even if there was a channel which offered only wonderful, fantastic programming 24 hrs. a day, I would have to severely limit it. Why settle for "good" when there is "better" to be had?

Having said that, I must tell you that there is one other way we use the TV. I do have my two youngest girls watch an educational DVD every day. This takes about 30-45 minutes, and I believe it is time wisely spent. First of all, I use the time to do something I could not do if they suddenly needed my attention. Secondly, they are actually learning things. One of the "movies" is a sign language tape, another is a foreign language show, another is a real trip to the zoo with up-close looks at all the animals (you know, the ones that are always sleeping in their caves when you go there in real life....!). Personally, I just love the zoo one because there are all these cute little kids and their parents walking around looking at the animals and being so smiley and happy. No one is crying, no one is tired and cranky, everyone is having a fantastic time, and the only thing we hear is wonderful classical music ;-)

The clincher for me though is that my kids are happy and calm when these shows are done. They are not wild; they are not bored. They are ready to move on to something else different and fun. The movie is just a very small element of their day. By the time they are 5 or 6, this little part of their routine will be in the past, and they will move into the stage of watching a family movie with the rest of us once a week.

I am not one to judge what others do about the TV. I have friends who have cable and a gazillion stations, and they tape all kinds of super-sounding shows off of the Discovery channel and really use the TV for interesting educational purposes. If it's not affecting their kids' behavior or attitudes, then I see absolutely no problem with that choice (and it's not my business anyway....). We sort of use Netflix that way to order good educational movies (like the exploration of the Titanic). I even have a whole set of DVDs from the Teaching Company on American History where the Professor dresses up in different costumes and uses different accents for each "lesson" he "acts" out for the audience, and it's been a fun, once-a-week supplement to our current American History studies.

But those kinds of shows are a whole different ballgame than sitcoms and primetime dramas. We grown-ups have a hard time controlling the addictive nature of this type of programming, so should we subject our children to the temptation? I know that we adults often don't perceive the subtle digs to our values and faith that are being constantly pushed on us by the Hollywood entertainment industry. So should we chance that type of crud being pumped into our kids? Still, it's a highly personal call to make, and I'm very glad we're only responsible to make it for our own families.

If others will give us the benefit of the doubt and assume that we have thought through this issue seriously and have come to the decision we believe is best for our own family, then I will attempt to give them that same courtesy. If others will trust that our decision to avoid TV shows (just like our decision to homeschool) reflects our own positive choice for our own family and is NOT a judgment of them and their "inferior" choices, then I will try to grant them that same trust and believe that they are not judging us as ignorant, overprotective fanatics. ;-)

One final thought: People often ask me how my kids have all become such great readers (which in turn has led to other academic "successes"....). I think it relates directly back to the fact that they don't watch TV. They still have vivid imaginations, they love a really good story, and they have the ability to focus intently.

By the way, they say that Mom reading aloud to them is the best entertainment of all. ;-)

Blessings,

Kim